Margao blast case: NIA yet to get 25 pc of forensic reports

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has told a local court that they are yet to receive 25 per cent of the forensic test reports on the evidences collected in the Margao blast case.

Public Prosecutor S.B Faria told the sessions court on Thursday that they are yet to get a fraction of the results, which would be placed before the court once available.

Five persons, linked to Sanatan Sanstha, are arrested for plotting serial blast on October 16, last year in Margao.Police had arrested Vinayak Patil, Vinay Talekar, Dhananjay Ashtekar and Dilip Mangaonkar. Prashant Ashtekar surrendered himself last month.

In the blast, two people - Malgonda Patil and Yogesh Naik, ferrying the explosives were killed.

During the trial, the prosecution produced a report of a handwriting expert who identified the 'On' and 'Off' mark on an IED switch, allegedly written by Ashtekar.

The prosecution also produced a document allegedly signed by accused Vinayak Patil to procure a mobile SIM card.The card was procured by forging the signature of a woman.

Ashtekar's lawyer Sanjiv Punalkar argued that the handwriting expert's report is manipulated due to constant political pressure on him.

He also claimed that the SIM card was never used by the accused for any purpose and hence does not make the material for the case.